Clear Cut recruits Austin to improve efficiency

Austin, who joins on 4 April, spent 10 years at the BBC, where he negotiated a long-term contract with BBC Children’s and, most recently, headed the broadcaster’s tapeless Elstree drama operation.

Clear Cut chief executive Horacio Queiro said that the appointment would “liberate” him from people management so he could concentrate on improving the post house’s workflow andimplementing new technology.

One project is to increase Clear Cut Pictures’ online and nearline storage from 200TB to 300TB, in response to more programmes being shot tapelessly and changes to workflow, with programmes such as Civilization: Is the West History? (pictured) graded at 4k resolution.

“I want Paul to focus on bringing more value to the screen,” Queiro said.

“He can raise suites’ occupancy levels and improve efficiencies. We have to remove the bottlenecks so we can create the perfect machine.”